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Sunday, 4 October 2015

Poppies: Wave at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Unfortunately I didn't get to London to see the sensational Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red by artist Paul Cummins last year. The installation, designed to mark the centenary of the start of the First World War, flooded the Tower of London's moat with bright red ceramic poppies,one for each of the 888,246 British and colonial lives lost in the war.

The installation began in July with over 8,000 volunteers joining in to 'plant' the poppies with the last one put in place on November 11 2014. Almost immediately, the ceramic poppies were uprooted and sent off to their new owners with the money raised going to six UK service charities. My mum was lucky enough to buy one and it is a singular evocative work of art which the family will treasure for years to come.

Two key dramatic elements of the installation, the Wave and Weeping Window, are now on tour around the UK. Luckily for me as part of that tour, Poppies; Wave is currently on display just down the road at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. A sweeping arch of poppies it tumbles into the park's historic lower lake, both breathtaking and heartbreakingly poignant.

Poppies: Wave will be at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park until 10.01. 2016.

I missed the poppies in London too enjoying them mainly through Country Kids posts here. I'm delighted they are making their way around the country, it is such a good idea. I wonder if they will reach as far as Cornwall? Your photographs are exquisite. Thank you for sharing with me on Country Kids.